This is Charles Brown performing his hit classic holiday song “Merry Christmas Baby”, live in 1983 Los Angeles, California. Composed by Charles Brown, but credited to Lou Baxter and Johnny Moore, Brown sang lead on this song as the pianist and vocalist with Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers.
The song, initially released in 1947, has charted consistently in three decades! That is the definition of a true classic. This song was subsequently re-recorded and appeared on Charles’ solo album entitled “Charles Brown Sings Christmas Songs”in 1961.
“Although Brown was clearly the group’s star attraction, Johnny Moore refused to allow him his own credit on the records. He also refused to sign an exclusive contract with any label, so that the group’s early records appeared on various labels, particularly Philo, Exclusive and Modern. In 1948, frustrated by his lack of recognition and financial reward, Charles Brown left the group for a successful solo career. ( Source)”
As further explanation of the song credit confusion I came across this: “From Mojo magazine, January 1997: “Brown… was approached by a songwriter named Lou Baxter who tried to sell him a seasonal ditty titled “Merry Christmas Blues.” Brown then, allegedly, revamped the song… but listed Baxter’s name as composer so that he would get a cut. Brown… recorded it as lead singer with Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers and Exclusive Records promptly placed Moore’s name on the label.” Brown has recorded this several more times since the original performance under his own name.”
Brown was a true renaissance man. With a degree in chemistry he taught school, worked as a chemist and was classically trained in piano – all before he began his music career.
I am still singing Louis Jordan tunes after my last post here, so here’s one more to share with you on this Friday morning. This is “Let The Good Times Roll” performed by Louis Jordan with his Tympany Five, from the 1947 public domain film “Reet, Petite, and Gone”.
I always thought of this song as belonging to the one and only “King of the Blues” -- BB King -- since he often performs it live on TV appearances and in concert, almost like a trademark. I didn’t realize it was a Jordan song until I recently discovered all of Jordan’s great music a fews years ago.
You know Jordan was a hero to Ray Charles, among others, and so I guess it was no different for B.B. King. In fact I just recently learned that B.B. King did an album entitled “Let the Good Times Roll: The Music of Louis Jordan” which is now at the top of my wish list for purchase.
I will close with a live rendition of the tune, as sung by Mr. King, from the “Annual New Year’s Eve Party with Willie Nelson and Family” on 12/31/1984. Enjoy the music and as always thanks for stopping by.
HA HA HA GOTCHA! Yea this is The Muppets’ version in this video: this was made during my lifetime! But here is the original version made in 1948 before I came into being.
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Louis Jordan -- Barnyard Boogie
I only recently came to know the music of Louis Jordan when I began subscribing to Sirius Satellite Radio about two years ago. Since I love oldies, and most of my oldies are on vinyl and/or cassettes, I thought this would be a great way to listen to my music without having to digitize all of my vinyl to listen to in the car. I was getting really annoyed with the lengthy conversion process after I had completed all of my Temptations, Eddie Kendricks and DeBarge music, as that was just the tip of my music collection.
Once I got the Sirius Radio, and scanned all of the stations, I fell in love with the mysteries and detective shows played on the the OTR station and would listen to “The Saint,” “Superman,” “Sherlock Holmes,”etc. at bedtime. In between shows Sirius plays music of the era -- mostly swing band stuff. This is how I discovered and fell in love with Louis Jordan -- “The Father of R&B” and #59 on“Rolling Stone’s List of Immortals”.
After learning how to sing, and honing his musical skills, as the saxophonist in Chick Webb’s orchestra, Jordan went out on his own, fronting the Tympany Five. From 1942 to 1951 Jordan had an astonishing 57 R&B chart hits and was especially popular on Armed Forces Radio during WW2.
